Pep Guardiola had to rely on Manchester City’s big weapons to prevent them from annoying a large FA Cup in Leyton Orient this afternoon.
The league with one side led to Stefan Ortega’s own goal 40 minutes, but a happy balance, followed by a brilliance by Jack Grialish and Kevin de Bruyne, saw the city crossed.
Guardiola called a much changed line -up that included debutants Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez, but both had a hot time with the former during the break and Gonzalez limped away after 22 minutes.
The latter was injured after being expropriated under the establishment of Orient’s goal, lost to Sonny Perkins and made Jamie Donley possible to try an ambitious 45 yard chip over Ortega.
The ball cut off on the underside of the bar and then hit the back tracking German on his feet before crossing the line.
City offered fleeting moments about an answer before her luck switched to the second half for 11 minutes when the ball met Abdukodir Khusanov and went in.
And City, which was observed by the Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, then took the winner with the kind permission of Belgiumstar de Bruyne.
Almost immediate influence of Kevin de Bruyne !!! 💥
City! pic.twitter.com/pn2kvtdtev
– BBC Sport (@bbcsport) February 8, 2025
Home defender Dan Happe should have compensated in the last minute, but attract a volley high and wide of six meters.
City rocked
For Boss Richie Wellens and Orient, the first half could not have been better if the home team was able to extend every threat to the Premier League master and at the same time to look at the counter.
Orient could have assumed her first serious attack after three minutes. The lively Charlie Kelman played in Jack Currie on the left and his low cross was partially treated by Nico O’reilly before the referee blew for a foul.
City reacted with Ilkay Gundogan, who rejects his shot after nine minutes in front of an open goal.
Orient found a lot of fun when she came forward and Kelman was clean five minutes later, but a difficult touch pushed him far too far, so Ortega achieved a suffocating rescue volume.
The German was not so happy that Orient’s next attack took over a shock lead. Perkin’s challenge in Gonzalez in midfield was classified as fair by referee Darren Bond, and the ball fell Donley, who produced a moment of magic.
Leyton Orient’s magical moment 💫💫💫 pic.twitter.com/pmrpp0b9li
– Match of the day (@bbbcmotd) February 8, 2025
In search of an equalizer, the city swirled and swung, but the physical presence of the missing Erling Haaland was missing.
Donley cleared a Bernardo Silva out of the line and Omar Marmoush poured a volley from his heel, so that the householder Josh Keeley could save a routine.
Half -time changes have an impact
Guardiola’s half-time changes, with Khusanov and John Stones offering visitors a greater degree of stability in the back and was apparently happier with Orient, it was the Premier League team that started to dominate.
Gundogan saw a shot, as did Marmoush, while James Mcatees made the outside of the right post.
After 63 minutes, Keeley scored a brilliant rescue to keep a Gundogan shot away, and dipped to the left to parry the ball clearly.
The exuberant home had fallen calmly as if they felt that a balance came, and it came from the resulting corner properly.
In a short routine, the ball Rico Lewis fell on the edge of the area and his shot hit Khusanov and Keeley on the way.
Manchester City is just! pic.twitter.com/yigeyyykpq
– BBC Sport (@bbcsport) February 8, 2025
Guardiola demanded de Bruyne and Phil Foden after 71 minutes and it didn’t take long for one of them to make a name for themselves.
Grialish, who impressed when he returned to the starting line -up, played a beautiful ball into the left channel, and de Bruyne used Keeley from a moment to get the ball past the goalkeeper.
